The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has called upon the Federal Government to address the grievances of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), particularly concerning their withheld salaries and alleged mistreatment.

Today marks the commencement of a nationwide strike by the aforementioned unions, following their earlier warning to shut down university hostels and power supply if their demands were not met by March 18, 2024.

In a statement issued on Monday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue, highlighting the severe impact of withholding salaries on the affected union members.

According to Comrade Ajaero, there is no justification for depriving the unions of their salaries, as it only exacerbates the already dire financial circumstances faced by the members, plunging them into indescribable hardship.

The statement reads, “We join our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in demanding for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members.

“There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place. We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.

“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment. By so doing government is clearly courting avoidable industrial dispute.

“At a time confidence is being restored to the public universities the least government could do is not engineer another strike.

“The toll on all the parties will be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who bear the burden of movement on our dangerous roads.

“In light of this, we urge government to expeditiously pay up the outstanding. We advise government to not take for granted the maturity of these unions.”